Page 66 of Carved in Ice (Made of Steel 3)

e wanted. Did that mean me? He needed time to figure out if he still wanted me? I shook my head. That didn’t make sense. He had wanted me on the roof that night. And judging what he said to Kins, he knew who I was. Had he known the whole time? Had he figured it out after we had been together?

“Because she always hits on Patrick whenever he visits. She’s a jerk.”

I remembered the new R.A. flirting with Miles. It was nice to know that he hadn’t been trying to get in her pants. But Kins should take a look in the mirror. She flirted with everyone too.

She yawned. “Is it okay if I get some sleep? Although, I’m a little worried that I’m going to wake up and this is all going to be a dream.”

“Kins, I promise you’re not crazy. But yeah, my room is the third door on the right. Make yourself at home.”

“It’s really good to have you back,” she said as she stood up and stretched. “And I’m glad you’re not a murderer.”

I laughed, knowing perfectly well that I would be eventually. “I promise that I’m not. I’ll be in soon.”

“Okay. Goodnight, Sadie. I mean Summer. That’s going to take some getting used to.”

“Night, Kins.” I should have gone with her. I should have put the thoughts stirring in my head to rest. And I certainly shouldn’t have given V any reason to think I was actually going to share his bed with him. But as soon as Kins went into my room, I walked toward his. We had a lot to discuss. Mainly why he was trying so desperately to control my life.

Chapter 27

Monday

I tried to turn V’s doorknob, but it didn’t budge. Catching him unaware would have made this conversation easier to control. But he seemed to think of everything to keep the scales tipped in his favor. Before I even lifted my hand to knock, the door opened.

He was pulling his mask down and I got the smallest glimpse of stubble underneath his chin before it disappeared from view. Stop focusing on him. I looked past his shoulder. I had never been in his room when the lights were on. But there wasn’t much to see. The room was completely empty. Nothing on the walls. No pictures of any kind. And everything was black. A black comforter on his bed. Black pillowcases. A black chair and desk. It was so unemotional that it made me feel sad. No wonder he had been sleeping in my room. This felt like a prison.

The only odd thing was that there was a stack of posters on his desk, facing down. Had he taken them off the walls so I wouldn’t know what he was interested in?

V cleared his throat. “I thought you’d be stubborn and sleep in your room with Kins.”

I turned my attention back to him. “I am going to sleep in my own room. I just needed to talk to you.”

“We’ll see about that.”

I rolled my eyes. I didn’t even try to hide it.

“How was your visit with Eli?” he asked.

I stared at him. He knew perfectly well that I didn’t go to Eli. He knew it and was just trying to push my buttons. Because I should have gone to Eli. Yet, all I had done was try to see Miles and now I was here with him. I was the worst girlfriend in the history of girlfriends. “Did you follow me?”

“There was no need. I know exactly who your heart belongs to.”

“If that’s true, and I’m not saying it is, then why would you steal that letter? Why would you prevent Miles from knowing the truth? And if you know everything, then you knew he left. You knew he was gone. So why the hell did you let me go to him in the first place?”

“So you admit that you were going to him?”

“Of course I went to see him. I had just found out that you interfered with…”

“Do you love him?”

I pressed my lips together.

“Just say it.”

I didn’t know what he wanted me to say. There were no words.

“You love him. It’s always been him.”

I shook my head.

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